Introduction
Hollow Knight is one of the most acclaimed indie games ever made — a hand-drawn 2D metroidvania from Australian studio Team Cherry that sold over 15 million copies since its 2017 release. It costs just £10.99 / $14.99 / ₺113 on Steam, and it runs on almost any PC built after 2012. Yet thousands of players every day search for guides on settings, controls, and how to fix common issues.
This guide covers everything: how to install Hollow Knight on PC, the best graphics and gameplay settings, controller vs. keyboard setup, how to avoid early-game mistakes, and fixes for every common PC error.
System Requirements
Hollow Knight's requirements are extremely modest — it targets 60 fps on decade-old integrated graphics.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 7 | Windows 10/11 |
| CPU | Intel Core 2 Duo E5200 | i5 (any gen) |
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| GPU | GeForce 9800GTX+ 1GB | GeForce GTX 450+ 1GB |
| Storage | 9 GB | 9 GB |
| DirectX | Version 10 | Version 11 |
Can my laptop run Hollow Knight? Almost certainly yes. A 2013 laptop with Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics runs it at 60 fps. The game is 2D with hand-drawn sprites — GPU demands are minimal.
macOS / Linux: Hollow Knight has native builds for both. On Mac, ARM (Apple Silicon) runs it natively at full speed. On Linux, the Steam build runs without Proton (though Proton works too).
How to Install Hollow Knight on PC
Via Steam (Recommended)
- Open Steam and search "Hollow Knight" or use store.steampowered.com.
- Purchase the game (it goes on sale for £3.29 / $5.99 during major Steam sales).
- Click Install. The game is ~8.5 GB.
- Launch from your Steam library.
Via GOG (DRM-Free)
Hollow Knight is available on GOG.com as a DRM-free download — no Steam client required. Useful if you want a permanent offline copy. Same price; no functional differences.
No Game Pass or Epic Exclusive
Unlike some indie titles, Hollow Knight is not on Xbox Game Pass PC (as of 2026). It is not Epic-exclusive. Steam and GOG are the only storefronts.
Launch Options and Graphics Settings
Hollow Knight has no in-engine graphics menu beyond a few key toggles. The game is not demanding, so the goal is locking a stable frame rate — not hunting for maximum quality.
In-Game Options Menu
From the main menu → Options → Video:
| Setting | Default | Recommendation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1920×1080 | Match your monitor | Any 16:9 aspect ratio works |
| Fullscreen | On | On (borderless-windowed) | Alt+Enter toggles |
| V-Sync | On | Off if your monitor has G-Sync/FreeSync | Enables variable refresh; otherwise leave On to prevent screen tear |
| Frame Rate Cap | 60 | 60 | Game is designed at 60 fps; >60 causes physics bugs |
| Brightness | 5 | Adjust to taste | Hollow Knight is intentionally dark |
Critical: Do NOT disable the frame rate cap beyond 60 fps. The game's physics and certain boss hitboxes are tied to the 60 fps tick rate. Playing at 120 fps causes visual glitches and erratic hitboxes. This is a known engine limitation Team Cherry never patched.
Steam Launch Options
Right-click Hollow Knight in your library → Properties → Launch Options:
-window-mode exclusiveForces true exclusive fullscreen, which can reduce input lag by ~1 frame on some systems. Use if you notice mouse/controller sluggishness in borderless mode.
Controller vs. Keyboard — Which Is Better?
Hollow Knight is a precision platformer with tight combat. The input method matters.
Controller (Recommended for Most Players)
Any Xbox, PlayStation, or Switch Pro controller works via Steam Input. The game ships with native controller prompts for Xbox/PS layouts.
Recommended default bindings (Xbox layout):
| Action | Button |
|---|---|
| Move | Left stick |
| Jump | A |
| Attack | X |
| Dash | Right Bumper (RB) |
| Focus/Cast | Right Trigger (RT) |
| Quick Map | Select / Back |
| Interact | A |
| Nail Arts | Hold X |
Why controller? The dash and jump require precise timing, and analog movement gives slightly smoother wall-jumping. Controller also eliminates "claw grip" strain during long boss sessions.
Keyboard (Viable for Experienced Players)
Default keyboard layout is awkward. Remap before playing:
| Action | Default | Recommended Remap |
|---|---|---|
| Jump | Z | Space |
| Attack | X | J or A |
| Dash | C | Shift |
| Focus/Cast | F | K or S |
| Quickmap | Tab | Tab (keep) |
| Up/Down | Arrow keys | W / S |
| Left/Right | Arrow keys | A / D |
Many speedrunners use keyboard for the lower input latency, but for a first playthrough, controller is more comfortable.
First Hour: Avoiding Common Beginner Mistakes
Hollow Knight is deliberately cryptic. Here's what to know before you wander into the Forgotten Crossroads:
1. Masks and Soul — Understand Your Resources
- Masks = health. You start with 5; you can earn more by collecting Mask Shards (4 shards = 1 mask).
- Soul = spell/healing resource. Your nail fills the Soul Vessel with each hit.
- Focus = hold the Focus/Cast button to spend 33 Soul and recover 1 Mask. Takes ~1.5 seconds. Learn to Focus between hits, not during.
2. Dying Sends Shade — Go Retrieve It
When you die, a Shade spawns at the death location holding all your Geo (the game's currency). You fight your own Shade to reclaim it. If you die again before reclaiming, you lose all the Geo permanently.
Tip: Geo is most important early game (for the Stag Station network and Sly's shop). By mid-game, Geo becomes plentiful — don't panic over losses.
3. The Map — Buy It, Mark It
The Cartographer in each area sells that area's map. You cannot fill in the map without buying it. Cornifer (the mapmaker) is found sketching in most early areas; follow the sound of humming paper.
Buy a Quill from Iselda (in Dirtmouth) to be able to mark your map with custom pins.
4. Do Not Skip the Ancestral Mound
The Ancestral Mound is in the Forgotten Crossroads (left from the starting room, then down). It contains the first Fury of the Fallen charm — critical for fragile playstyles — and the Vengeful Spirit spell. The Vengeful Spirit projectile makes early exploration much safer.
5. Shade Soul vs. Soul Shade
The spell upgrade Shade Soul is found in the City of Tears — it is NOT the same as the enemy "Shade." Shade Soul fires a larger, faster orb. Getting it requires beating Soul Master, a mid-game boss.
Charms — Early Recommendations
Charms are the game's build system. You equip them in the Inventory screen; each costs Notch slots. You start with 3 Notches.
| Charm | Location | Cost | Why Use It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fury of the Fallen | Ancestral Mound | 2 Notches | +75% damage at 1 mask — critical for boss fights |
| Longnail | Sly's Shop (140 Geo) | 1 Notch | +15% nail range — helps with spacing |
| Quick Slash | Distant Village (Deepnest) | 3 Notches | +40% attack speed — best late-game DPS charm |
| Shaman Stone | Forgotten Crossroads (grub reward) | 3 Notches | +33% spell damage |
| Soul Catcher | Forgotten Crossroads | 2 Notches | Gain more Soul per hit — sustains healing |
| Grubsong | Grubfather (5 grubs) | 1 Notch | Gain Soul on damage — helps poor Soul generation |
Starter build (3 Notches): Longnail (1) + Fury of the Fallen (2). Solid until you have 5–6 Notches.
Boss Order and Difficulty
Hollow Knight has no enforced boss order, but some sequences are strongly recommended:
Main Progression Order (Recommended)
- False Knight — Forgotten Crossroads. Tutorial boss. Do this first.
- Gruz Mother — FC. Optional but gives Notch.
- Hornet (1st) — Greenpath. Opens the map. Required.
- Soul Master — City of Tears. Required for progression + Shade Soul spell.
- Broken Vessel — Ancient Basin. Opens Abyss.
- Hornet (2nd) — Kingdom's Edge. Required for true ending.
- The Hollow Knight — Forgotten Crossroads throne room. Final boss (standard ending).
- Radiance — True final boss (unlocked by specific conditions).
Hardest Bosses (Spoiler-Free)
- Markoth — toughest optional boss; wait until you have Quick Slash + Joni's Blessing or Fragile Heart.
- Nightmare King Grimm — optional Grimm Troupe DLC chain. Requires Fury + Quick Slash.
- Absolute Radiance — Godmaster DLC final challenge. True endgame.
DLC Content
Hollow Knight has four free content packs (all included in the base purchase):
| DLC | What It Adds |
|---|---|
| Hidden Dreams | Dream bosses: Failed Champion, Soul Tyrant, Lost Kin; White Palace area |
| The Grimm Troupe | Grimm boss chain, new NPCs, Fragile/Unbreakable charms |
| Lifeblood | Lifeblood Cocoons, Hive area, Lifeblood Core charm |
| Godmaster | Pantheon challenges (endgame boss rush); Flower Quest; 3 new bosses |
All four packs are free updates. If you installed after 2018, you already have them.
Modding: Hollow Knight Mod Installer
The modding community for Hollow Knight is substantial. The Mod Installer (formerly Scarab) handles everything:
- Install the Hollow Knight Modding API from GitHub.
- Run the installer; it patches the game automatically.
- Browse mods: quality-of-life (Benchwarp, ItemChanger, RandoMenu) or randomizer (Randomizer 4).
Popular mods:
- Benchwarp — teleport to any bench from anywhere. Useful for completionist runs.
- Randomizer 4 — full item randomizer; extends the game massively for repeat playthroughs.
- HKViz — visual debug overlay for speedrunners.
Note: Disable mods to get achievements on Steam. Mods don't cause VAC bans (there's no multiplayer VAC), but some Steam achievements check for un-modded save files.
Common PC Issues and Fixes
Black Screen on Launch
- Right-click Hollow Knight in Steam → Properties → Compatibility → check "Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool" → select Proton 7.0 (Windows users: leave unchecked; this is for Linux).
- Windows: Right-click
hollow_knight.exe→ Properties → Compatibility → "Run this program in compatibility mode for Windows 8." - Delete
%APPDATA%\..\LocalLow\Team Cherry\Hollow Knight\save folder (backs up first), then relaunch.
Game Freezes at "Silksong" Screen
This is a harmless Easter Egg loading screen referencing the sequel. It resolves in 3–5 seconds. Not a crash.
Low FPS / Stuttering
Hollow Knight should run at 60 fps on virtually any hardware. If it doesn't:
- Check V-Sync is On (prevents overdriving the GPU uselessly).
- Close background apps (Chrome/Discord can steal RAM on 4 GB systems).
- Set Unity to High Performance: Windows Power Options → High Performance.
- Verify game files: Steam Library → Right-click → Manage → Verify integrity.
Controller Not Detected
- Open Steam in Big Picture mode, configure controller globally.
- In Hollow Knight Properties → Controller → "Enable Steam Input."
- For PS5 DualSense: DS4Windows is not required; Steam natively maps it.
Save File Corrupt / Lost
Hollow Knight saves to %APPDATA%\..\LocalLow\Team Cherry\Hollow Knight\. The game keeps 3 save slots. Steam Cloud Sync is enabled by default — check Steam Cloud history (Steam → Settings → Cloud) to restore a previous version.
Achievements Not Unlocking
If you have mods installed, uninstall the Modding API (hollowknightData\Managed\ folder) and verify game files. Achievements should then trigger on normal gameplay events.
Hollow Knight vs. Silksong — What We Know
Hollow Knight: Silksong, the sequel featuring Hornet as the playable character, was announced in 2019. As of August 2026, no firm release date has been announced. It was shown at Nintendo Direct events and confirmed for Game Pass day-one release.
Is Silksong out yet? Not as of August 2026. Follow Team Cherry's official blog for updates.
PC vs. Console — Which Version Is Best?
| Platform | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| PC (Steam) | Mods, best performance, cheapest on sale | Need a controller for best experience |
| Nintendo Switch | Portable, native controller | Locked 30 fps in handheld mode |
| PS4/PS5 | DualShock/DualSense haptics | No mods |
| Xbox One/Series | Game Pass not available (2026) | No mods |
Verdict: PC is the definitive version for mods and performance. If you're a completionist or randomizer runner, PC is the only platform.
FAQ
Q: Is Hollow Knight difficult? A: Yes. It's a souls-like metroidvania — deaths are punishing (Shade mechanic), bosses require pattern recognition. Most players die 200–400 times on a first playthrough. Persistence is rewarded; the game is never unfair.
Q: How long is Hollow Knight? A: 25–40 hours for main story + major optional content. 55–70 hours for full 112% completion. Randomizer runs add unlimited replayability.
Q: Is it multiplayer? A: No. Single-player only.
Q: Is Hollow Knight on Xbox Game Pass PC? A: No, as of 2026. Silksong (the sequel) was announced as a Game Pass day-one title, but Hollow Knight itself is not on Game Pass.
Q: Can I transfer my save from Switch to PC? A: Not officially. Community tools exist but are not endorsed by Team Cherry.
Q: Is there New Game+? A: Not formally. You can start a fresh save slot or use the Godmaster Pantheons for endgame challenge content.
Q: Why does Hollow Knight feel so atmospheric? A: The art (hand-drawn by Team Cherry's Ari Gibson) and Christopher Larkin's orchestral score are specifically designed around the "ruined kingdom" motif. Every biome has a unique instrument palette.
Conclusion
Hollow Knight is one of the best £10 you'll spend in PC gaming. It runs on almost any hardware, ships with all DLC for free, and has a thriving mod scene. Start with a controller, pick up the Ancestral Mound's Vengeful Spirit early, and don't lose your Geo to your own Shade.
When you're done (or ready for more punishment), Hades II on PC offers a similar quality ceiling with roguelite structure, and Elden Ring provides the open-world souls experience for those who want to keep suffering in style.
EmuDesk guide — last updated August 2026.